President Ruto has announced that teachers will receive a salary increase of between 7-10% starting this July.
Speaking on Friday, June 30 at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) during the launch of the new e-Citizen platform, the President noted that there is a need to cushion civil servants from the current harsh economic times.
“I know there is a proposal by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for the increase of salaries of different cadres of both civil servants and other public servants. So our teachers, policemen, military space, and those working in government, we have agreed that from tomorrow your salaries will be adjusted between 7 and 10 percent,” he said.
The president also urged the SRC to postpone revising the salaries of State officers such as himself, his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, Cabinet, and Principal Secretaries, stating that those may wait.
“Salaries for state officers like myself, my deputy, ministers, principal secretaries and those other top official, let us wait for a while please, our salaries will remain unchanged,” he added.
Earlier on, the SRC proposed raising Ruto’s salary from Ksh1,443,750 to Ksh1,546,875 and his deputy’s salary from Sh1,227,188 to Sh1,367,438 beginning July 1.
The follows condemnation of the SRC by the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET) on the proposal to increase state officers’ salaries
In a statement early Friday, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori demanded that teachers’ salaries should be reviewed before increasing salaries of the officers.
He said SRC’s proposal of salary increment to state officers was ironical since many times before, they claimed to be unable to pay teachers.
“If any further proof was needed that the government is able to review teachers’ salaries, this SRC recommendation is sufficient,” Misori said.
“This is the same commission that has blocked the review of teachers’ salaries for two years under the Third Public Sector Remuneration and Benefits Review Cycle in 2021, alleging that the government cannot afford a pay rise for its workers,” he added.
Misori added that the commission is taking advantage of low-income earners who are suffering from skyrocketed inflation and low salaries.
He said the union will meet in July to make a final demand for a teachers’ salary increment that was due in 2021 and has not been offered to date.
By Our Reporter
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